MAC COVID-19 Update
MAC ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to properly fund counties in Phase 4 bill

Congress is now debating the details of the Phase 4 rescue bill on the corona crisis. The current version of the legislation, however, does not properly address county funding.

Specifically, the CDBG allocation formula in the Phase 4 proposal was not developed to respond to a public health crisis. If implemented, it would give a disproportionate share to cities and does not reflect the front-line response efforts being led, and paid for, by county governments.

In support of NACo's efforts on Capitol Hill, MAC urges all county leaders to send an email to their members of Congress that details how the bill can be fixed to ensure proper county funding.
Whitmer to extend virtual meeting option for local boards

Counties will continue to have the option to conduct virtual board meetings under the Open Meetings Act (OMA), after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office told MAC this afternoon that she would issue an Executive Order extension on Tuesday night.
 
The expected new order would replace EO-15, which would have expired on April 15 and left county boards and others having to comply with the original restrictions of the OMA, which bars remote meetings. The Governor’s Office did not indicate how long the new Executive Order would be effective.
 
“We are pleased the governor will extend this option to our members, so they can conduct board business in a way that is safe and transparent,” said Stephan Currie, MAC executive director.
 
For tips and legal guidance on conducting virtual sessions, visit MAC’s COVID-19 Resources Page.
Send us your questions for chief justice on Thursday
 
MAC is still collecting questions for Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, who will give the opening keynote to our virtual Legislative Conference on Thursday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
 
To register for the keynote event, click here.
 
To submit a question, send to keit@micounties.org by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15.
 
McCormack, who has led Michigan's highest court since January 2019, has been a strong and consistent voice for reforms and innovation in the judicial world, including partnering with MAC and others on the Jail and Pretrial Incarceration Task Force. ( See full bio.) On April 16, she is expected to address that effort, along with such issues as trial court funding, court organization and more.
Treasury sets webinar on April 20

The Michigan Department of Treasury, in partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Townships Association, will hold a joint webinar, COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments, on April 20 at 2 p.m.


Topics will include local government economic impacts, state resources, and federal funding information.

Additionally, there will be a question and answer period.

Please submit your questions to MAC Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org by Thursday, April 16.
MAC president tapes video message

MAC President Veronica Klinefelt taped a special video message for members which is now available on the MAC website.

In the brief message, Klinefelt, of Macomb County, detailed the many changes MAC members have seen in recent weeks due to the COVID-19 crisis and mentioned how she hoped to keep in touch with members using virtual avenues.
Check out MAC's heat map to see county-by-county data on COVID cases

Working with our partners at the data firm Munetrix, MAC has installed an interactive “heat map” of the state showing COVID-19 data by county. In addition to the number of cases and deaths, the map will show cases per 100,000 residents.

Munetrix has offered to share the embed code for this map with our county members for their websites. If you wish to receive the code, send the request to melot@micounties.org.
MMRMA releases model plan for COVID preparedness and response
 
Working with Monroe County and the Dykema law firm, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) has developed a model COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and instructions .
 
“While members and others may choose to develop their individual plans, MMRMA wanted to make this model plan available to those whose time or resources may be scarce or devoted to other service endeavors,” said Executive Director Michael Rhyner. “This plan is in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-42 and ready for customization by each entity who may use it in developing their respective plans.”
 
“The value of the partnership between the MMRMA and MAC is clearly demonstrated in this initiative,” said Michael Bosanac, Monroe administrator and chair of the MMRMA Board. “When the MACAO group looked for some guidance and expertise, MMRMA was a perfect choice to deliver a model preparedness and response plan. This will save countless hours of key administrators who would have been spent crafting each of theirs separately.”
Livingston is national leader in census responses
 
Livingston County tops the Michigan charts for responses so far to the 2020 Census, with about two-thirds of residents responding. Livingston’s 66 percent rate puts it no. 11 nationally for responses.
 
Making up Michigan’s top five counties so far behind Livingston are Macomb, Midland, Oakland and Ottawa. For more data, click here.
 
As a state, Michigan is no. 3 nationally in reporting (51.8%), behind only Wisconsin (54.9%) and Minnesota (57.5%).
 
The Census Bureau has extended the data collection period through Oct. 31, with field operations resuming on June 1. Census responses can be done at www.my2020census.gov, at 844-330-2020 or through the physical form that comes in the mail.
 
For more information on this issue, contact Michael Ruddock at ruddock@micounties.org.